Bhawanipatna: Normal life was affected in Kalahandi Wednesday in response to a 12-hour shutdown call given by the opposition Congress protesting the Centre’s alleged bid to shift the proposed rail wagon repair factory from Narla to Visakhapatanam in Andhra Pradesh.
Merchant associations, truck and private bus owner associations, different trade unions supported the bandh demanding that the ministry of railways must reconsider its
decision and allow the project at Narla.
The agitators also called upon the state government to mount pressure on the Centre.
Police sources said vehicles remained off the road and all shops and business establishments were closed during the bandh which also paralysed banking and postal services.
Work in courts was also affected. Due to picketing in front of offices, government work
was also affected, the sources said.
Rail traffic was stranded in Narla, Kesinga and Langigarh stations of Kaahandi in Vizyanagaram-Raipur and Sambalpur route.
At many places along the National Highway passing through Bhawanipatna, the agitators burnt tyres.
Besides the district headquarters town here, the bandh had its impact in Narla, Kesinga and Junagarh towns. About 30volunteers including Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das were taken to custody in different parts of the district.
Incidentally Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had Tuesday sought a clarification from railways minister Suresh Prabhu over media reports on shifting of the proposed wagon
repair factory from Kalahandi district.
While the Congress blamed both the BJD and BJP over the alleged shifting of the wagon repair factory from Narla, BJP spokesperson Sajan Sharma held the state government
responsible for non-implementation of the project since 2013.